Brands Hatch Indy - Formula Easter test race 2. Weds 8th April

[Barone]

I didn't get any feeling with the car, anyway race 1 didn't go as bad as I would thought.
Race 2 was more unlucky, I was on 5-6 pos when the guys in front spun in the exit of Graham Hill corner. I tried to avoid them but I ended on the grass and restarted last. I then got up to 9 pos when I spun like an idiot on the Druids' inside kerb and I was stuck on the wall. I had quite a good margin so I ended up losing only one position but it was disappointing. It happens.

Congrats to the winners!

[picnic]

Sorry I didn't race last night was late to the computer and still needed to install all the cars, trouble was the download was corrupt and I couldn't open it. No time to download again so I missed out. I have downloaded it again this morning and checked the file is complete so I'll be ready for next time.

[goldtop]

Really like these cars.

Made an ok start to race 1 but was then tapped from behind at Druids, there were cars around me and I was on the inside so I was probably a little cautious heading into the turn. Had a good chase back but then started to get a bit too ambitious into Paddock Hill and had a couple of big offs. Race 2 was going well and leading with a few minutes to go until I clipped the curb in Druids which spat me off to the inside armco. Only a light touch but enough to kill my steering 

Looking forward to the series and these mysterious Russian tracks that FMG has lined up for us 

[FullMetalGasket]

I thoroughly enjoyed that - There was a period towards the end of practice where Frex, Fabri and myself spent over 5 minutes separated by about 0.04 seconds despite a few improvements between us
Sadly the gap was a bit higher in Qualifying - although I managed to finally pip Fabri by a ridiculous 0.019 of a sec on my final lap (I had time for another but not enough fuel).

Race 1 started well although I was forced to defend a fair amount and keep and eye on where Fabri was. About 4 or 5 laps in he made an error on the kerb at Graham Hill bend and lost the rear of his car - that gave me more space and time to think so I was able to very slowly start creeping away from Frex who had inherited 2nd.
From about the 10 minute point I was far enough ahead that I was able to watch the main pack come screaming into Paddock hill bend as I was leaving Druids - It looked absolutely fantastic, especially as there regularly seemed to be fights and battles taking place

Race 2 was marred somewhat by a number of incidents on lap 1. The 2nd of which caused absolute carnage! Which is strange really as I think everyone got through Druids cleanly bar some lockups.
I rejoined after the fracas in Graham Hill bend very nearly last and had a whale of a time working back up the order. A few people were kind enough to fall off on their own (Max was sadly among them - I was curious to see how long he could hold me off as he clearly wasn't getting along with the RAF80 too well, I have to admit it did seem to suffer bad understeer over Paddock hill when I was trying it out).
Instead I had a great fight with Lorenzo (It's been too long ), which after a few failed attempts I finally managed to pull off thanks to a great dive-bomb into Druids followed by luring him into an out-braking contest for Graham Hill - Which I skipped in order to out drag him from the exit
After that I was trying like crazy to narrow the gap to Fabri but made too many mistakes - Either my front aero had taken a whack in the L1 shenanigans or I was just over-driving.

Well done to the Podiums and thank you to everyone who's turned up - While I think these can be fun even to hot lap they are an absolute blast in a pack!


Barring the MTX1-06 needing to be added to the Formula Easter class the results import has gone without a hitch so I'm declaring my learning as over.
Next week will be another simple fun event so as not to interfere with everyone's efforts on Thursday - it'll be road based again but a totally different animal (and great fun!).



There is also a possible fun event in the pipeline with us Vs Russia - all off the back of my talks with Yurik about these cars.
Current intention is Estonia 21's at Tor Poznan with a pencilled in date of Friday 24th April at roughly our normal time.
Firm date and server details to be announced, so watch the Announcements sub forum

[FullMetalGasket]

I've been busy with the camera - have some tasty pictures from the action










Start of race 2 with Goldtop in the position he'd hold until nearly the end


A lock up but amazingly no contacts given cars entering 3 wide!




The aftermath from the Graham Hill bend massacre




There's something really photogenic about the front wing on the 1-06 I think


Race 2 Podium.
1st - Fabri (Nearest camera)
2nd - FMG (middle)
3rd - Lorenzo (Furthest)

[MaxVeloce]

A few people were kind enough to fall off on their own (Max was sadly among them - I was curious to see how long he could hold me off as he clearly wasn't getting along with the RAF80 too well, I have to admit it did seem to suffer bad understeer over Paddock hill when I was trying it out).

TBH knwoign I was so slow I was going to let you past like I did Fabri and just drive for the best finish I could, then I potato'd into the gravel anyway

RAF would probably be Ok if I had more time to set it up,  it was getting better each time I tweaked it but after some some t-bone at the start of race2 I don't think the lap times reflected that. It def has some nasty understeer in Paddock and another thing - the mirrors are useless in VR, I can see barely anything in them and was driving more by radar. Still it was clearly off pace at Brands so IDK, need to try it at some other tracks.

[FullMetalGasket]

I intend to run 1 further test race with the cars - this will be at a high speed circuit with the intention of seeing if that throws up a different result.
(circuit to be worked out still - I don't really want to break the surprise yet on any of the new locations we'll be visiting if I can help it)
If it does then we're home and dry and can pick from all the cars based on preference (well, probably not the Estonia 21 unless people REALLY want to as it's so slow) when the season starts.

I'm still intending to run something else in a short season first - If nothing else it gives me something less complex to cut my teeth on, plus I can get some advertising underway for the Easters once I can set a date.

I think the RAF could be helped at Brands with a mildly aggressive spot of toe out and the diff altered to keep it in check - I did this with the Melkus as it was a little understeery and managed to place it 2nd overall on the lap times. It was faster out of the box that the RAF admittedly, but not that much faster!

[Fabri Fibra]

Beautiful highlights pics!

The races were a lot of fun and hard fought. Cars are very interesting to drive. I think some are fairly balanced, especially the MTX1-06, Avia AE2, Estonia 20 and MTX1-03. Maybe RAF is a bit slower, same for MT77. Instead the Estonia 21 is completely out of pace, 1 sec slower.

I had good lap-times on my Avia and I was near to pole. Then I started have troubles with my PC, disco + high ping and this made me nervous enough before race 1.
I started well and I followed Tim perfectly. Unfortunately after some laps my car has rocketed away on the kerb at Graham Hill bend (probably my car touched down while drifting). I didn't spin, but I managed to stay straight after several zig-zags, loosing no so much time.
I rejoined 6th. I started a good comeback fighting several battles. I took the second position a bit violently, with a contact with Stefan at the fast esse Surtees. Sorry again mate. Finished 2nd.

Race 2. A good start, there were, for two times, massacres at Graham Hill bend. At first lap I could not avoid the contact of the mess that had been created, laps later instead I managed to pass the inside while 2 cars hooked up, lucky enough.
I fought hard with Maxime, wich is so hard to pass, but he entered to pits after some laps. So I was second, behind Goldtop, closing the gap every lap. Then he had troubles on Druids so I took the lead and won.

Nice organization, Tim!

[KDiesel]

I had good fun with Estonia 21 among backmarkers, biggest problems it has is very long 1st gear, least it shoots out from corners pretty well...

[Mark J]

that was a cracking combo last night really enjoyed it.  Should have been top 4 in race 1 and podium in race 2 really but a spin in both races and a punt into the gravel scuppered my chances.
Had done very little running prior to the event (circa 20 laps!) and made some setup tweaks on the fly based on feedback the car was giving me. Improved it nicely with a few adjustments and I could really enjoy racing with it. Put it 4th in qually (home track advantage  ) Stayed 4th for first few laps until a downshift at Clearways put me into a big slow tail-turn around onto the infield grass. This was like bambi on ice and I dropped to the very bottom of the field trying to find traction  But then I had mega fun fighting my way back up through the field to a decent 6th place.

Race 2, lasted as far as T1 when someone nerfed me into the fabled well used gravel at Paddock. But when I rejoined there were umpteen incidents going on ahead of me with cars firing off left right and centre  I haven't seen that many contacts for ages, calm down boys!  I chased Fabri and GT ahead for a few laps for the podium places but I then oddly had another blinking spin at Druids and lost a heap of places again.  But with good pace and setting lots of 'green' lap times over most of the field I re-caught up with Max ahead. But although I took time out of him most laps and closed him down, the race finished before I could pressure him. A disappointing 6th again.

[Stefan aka Postal]

 Never thought i could have this much fun with a Lada powered car.

[IbnSolmyr]

Made an ok start to race 1 but was then tapped from behind at Druids, there were cars around me and I was on the inside so I was probably a little cautious heading into the turn.

It was me, GT, and I apologize. Unfortunately I was trying to overtake Pietro Tortello and so it was tough moment. In addition he started to move on me to close the door while I was braking in his rear right  so that I had to give a bit more of right angle to my braking point, which didn't help.
Then the tap was costly for you, sorry. Made me having a bit of fun with Mark behind.

Last 2 laps were ultra fuel saving here, need to tap onto the gauge...

[goldtop]

Made an ok start to race 1 but was then tapped from behind at Druids, there were cars around me and I was on the inside so I was probably a little cautious heading into the turn.

It was me, GT, and I apologize. Unfortunately I was trying to overtake Pietro Tortello and so it was tough moment. In addition he started to move on me to close the door while I was braking in his rear right  so that I had to give a bit more of right angle to my braking point, which didn't help.
Then the tap was costly for you, sorry. Made me having a bit of fun with Mark behind.

Last 2 laps were ultra fuel saving here, need to tap onto the gauge...

No problem Maxime. I too had to ease off for the last couple of laps in race 1 and just managed to splutter over the finish line.

[FullMetalGasket]

Never thought i could have this much fun with a Lada powered car.

I've been saying for years that the racing is generally better in slower cars - not as sexy I admit - but much closer and better
I went back onto the server prior to re-setting for next weeks' race, and put some times in with the 2 cars I hadn't tried, this gives us the following table of laptimes. There will be 1 remaining fun event prior to Season 16 at a high speed circuit - so we can see if/how these times change. Hopefully some shuffling will occur and we can all pick whatever car we like the looks of most for the season proper

(I think the RAF80 has more speed in it at Brands, maybe enough to match the ~48.6 of most other cars. But I couldn't be bothered sitting in a boiling hot spare room long enough to try!)

The next 2 weeks worth of races are also now posted, and can I also direct everyone's attention to this post here: https://www.simracing.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=19252.msg350482#msg350482
Your responses will be very helpful when season 16 gets officially kicked off!